SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR CONNECTING MAP UNITS IN A DIGITAL WAYFINDING MAP
Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for generating digital wayfinding maps are described. A system for generating digital wayfinding maps may be configured to connect individual map units, such as map units configured to represent floors in a building. Portal nodes may be arranged on the map units that are configured to represent connection points between map units. Connection elements may be used to connect the map units through the portal nodes. For instance, for a building digital wayfinding map including floor map units, the connection elements may represent elevators, stairways and/or escalators. The connection elements and the portal nodes may be used to connect the map units to generate multi-unit routes that traverse multiple map units. Routes between points of interest on different map units may be presented to a user as a single navigable route using the connection elements and the portal nodes.
Digital mapping technology has evolved beyond conventional road maps representing geographical areas and into the mapping of various real and virtual structures, including buildings, campuses, electronic components, and data maps. In general, destinations in a digital road map are connected through roads on a single plane, namely, the surface of the earth. However, structural maps may include areas on separate planes, levels, surfaces, or the like. For example, a map of a building may provide a separate map image for each floor of the building.
Individuals now rely on digital maps for step-by-step directions. For a structural map, step-by-step directions can require the ability to navigate between separate levels. However, conventional technology does not provide processes for effectively connecting separate map levels, especially in a manner that allows for the generation of straightforward directions between points on each level. As such, structural digital maps are generally static and do not provide navigation features that users have become accustomed to. It will therefore be desirable to generate a digital map using processes configured to connect map levels in a multi-level digital map in an efficient and cost-effective manner that provides navigation features between the map levels.
SUMMARYThis disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.
As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”
In an embodiment, a system for connecting a plurality of map units of a digital wayfinding map may comprise a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor. The computer-readable storage medium may contain one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to access the plurality of map units, in which each of the plurality of map units comprises at least one of a plurality of nodes. The computer-readable storage medium may also contain one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive a plurality of portal nodes arranged on at least two of the plurality of map units, receive at least one connection element configured to indicate a connection between at least two of the plurality of map units through at least two of the plurality of portal nodes, and generate at least one multi-unit route between at least two of the plurality of nodes of the at least two map units using the at least one connection element.
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for connecting a plurality of map units of a digital wayfinding map, by a processor, may comprise accessing the plurality of map units, in which each of the plurality of map units comprising at least one of a plurality of nodes. The method may further comprise receiving a plurality of portal nodes arranged on at least two of the plurality of map units, receiving at least one connection element configured to indicate a connection between at least two of the plurality of map units through at least two of the plurality of portal nodes, generating at least one multi-unit route between at least two of the plurality of nodes of the at least two map units using the at least one connection element. In an embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium may include computer-readable program code configured to connect a plurality of map units of a digital wayfinding map embodied therewith. The computer-readable program code may comprise computer-readable program code configured to access the plurality of map units, in which each of the plurality of map units comprises at least one of a plurality of nodes. The computer-readable program code may further comprise computer-readable program code configured to receive a plurality of portal nodes arranged on at least two of the plurality of map units, receive at least one connection element configured to indicate a connection between at least two of the plurality of map units through at least two of the plurality of portal nodes, generate at least one multi-unit route between at least two of the plurality of nodes of the at least two map units using the at least one connection element.
The above and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The described technology is directed to systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for generating digital wayfinding maps and routes between points associated therewith. In general, a digital wayfinding map may include a graphical representation of an area, such as a geographic location and/or a structure, and routes for navigating between points within the area. For example, a digital wayfinding map may be configured to represent a city and may include routes for traveling between locations in the city, such as buildings, addresses and streets. In another example, a digital wayfinding map may represent an indoor space, such as the interior of a building, and may include routes for navigating between rooms, floors, entrances, elevators, stairs, or other points of interest within the building. Non-limiting examples of buildings include hospitals, office buildings, school buildings, convention centers, sports stadiums and arenas, hotels, manufacturing facilities, and shopping centers. In a further example, a digital wayfinding map may be configured to represent both indoor and outdoor spaces, such as a college campus, a medical campus, an amusement park, a zoo, a public transportation system, or a geographical area including buildings. For example, a digital wayfinding map may be configured to provide directions from a room in a first building to a room in a second building via an outdoor path.
According to some embodiments, a digital wayfinding map may include multiple individual units (“map units”) that represent various elements, components, areas and/or portions thereof of the structure and/or area depicted in the digital wayfinding map. For instance, a map unit may include a floor in a building, a building on a campus, a circuit board in an electronic device, a group in a social graph, or the like. The map units may be connected using various connection elements, including, without limitation, doorways and/or other unit interfaces, tunnels, bridges, stairs, elevators, escalators, ramps (for example, for handicap accessibility), roads, public transportation routes, airline routes, virtual connections (for example, social graph relationship connections), or circuits. In an embodiment, a map unit may include one or more portals configured to provide connections to other map units through a connection element. For instance, a floor map unit may include a portal configured as a stairway entrance that is connected to a stairway entrance portal of another floor through a staircase connection element.
In an embodiment, each map unit may be on a separate plane, level, system, or other formation such that navigation therebetween requires a specific multi-unit connection. For example, floor map units in a building digital wayfinding map may require connections such as a stairway or elevator for navigation between floors. In another example, geographical area map units may be separated by a structure, such as a body of water, requiring an airline route connection to navigate between geographical areas.
According to some embodiments, a digital wayfinding map may be accessible through a map application executed by a logic device, such as a server, personal computer (PC), tablet computing device, kiosk computing system, smartphone, or the like. The map application may be configured to manage various information elements, including, without limitation, files, data, route generation processes, and/or user input associated with the digital wayfinding map. A user may access the digital wayfinding map through a display component in operable communication with the logic device executing the map application. For example, the map application may be configured to render an image of an area on the display component and to access a database including digital signage locations and/or points of interest for display on the image. The map application may receive user input indicating a starting point and a destination point and may generate a lowest-cost route (for example, the “best” route based on various criteria and/or factors) for display on the image of the area. For instance, kiosk computing devices may be located at the entrances of a stadium. A visitor may select a destination, such as a seating section, from a kiosk computing device at a particular entrance to receive the shortest-distance directions to the destination.
A digital wayfinding map may include, without limitation, one or more map units, nodes arranged within the one or more map units, lines connecting the nodes, routes between the nodes, and processes for determining the lowest-cost route from a starting point to a destination point. In an embodiment, a map unit may include an individual graphical representation within the digital wayfinding map. A non-limiting example of a map unit may include a geographical location, a structure, an object, or portions thereof. For instance, a digital wayfinding map may be configured for a building and may include a map unit for each floor and a map unit representing the area immediately surrounding the building, such as the parking area for the building. In another instance, a digital wayfinding map may be configured for a geographical region and may include map units representing a certain defined area of the geographical region, such as square area units (for example, “tiles”) or defined sub-regions (for example, a city, a suburb, a university campus, or the like). In a further instance, a digital wayfinding map may be configured for an electronic device and may include a map unit for each circuit board with routes configured to indicate data flow within the electronic device.
The nodes may be configured to represent points of interest within the digital wayfinding map, such as countries, states, cities, towns, streets, addresses, buildings, floors and/or rooms within a building, or the like. In an embodiment, the particular points of interest available and/or visible to a user may depend on the selected level of detail (for example, the “zoom level”) for the digital wayfinding map. Nodes may be connected to other nodes through lines, for example, representing paths between the nodes. Lines are not limited to straight lines, but may include, without limitation, arcs, curves, paths, roadways, hallways, pedestrian walkways, waterways, stairs, escalators, elevators, public transportation routes, airline routes, and any other structure or form capable of connecting or representing a connection between nodes. A map application and/or a route generation application may be configured to generate navigable routes between nodes using the paths. For example, a map application may present a highlighted path on the map unit from a start node to a destination node within the map unit.
In general, a developer may use a map development application or map management application to generate a digital wayfinding map configured to be managed by the map application and/or route generation application. The developer may create and/or access a map unit, such as an image file (for example, a .jpg, .bmp, .tiff, or the like) of a floor of a building, a geographical area or a component of a device using the map development application. The developer may then position a node on each point of interest on the map unit so that a user may interact with the point of interest within the digital wayfinding map. For instance, a node object may be placed on the map unit at each point of interest, such as a street address on a geographical area map unit or a room in a building floor map unit.
Existing technology provides that the developer is required to configure each map unit individually, for example, without the ability to connect the map units and generate comprehensive routes that span multiple map units. As such, digital wayfinding maps having multiple map units heretofore were not capable of providing accurate navigation functions between multiple map units without cumbersome and complicated workarounds.
Accordingly, embodiments described herein provide for the efficient and cost-effective generation of digital wayfinding maps including comprehensive navigation routes between multiple map units. In an embodiment, a map developer application may be configured to receive portal nodes on one or more map units of a digital wayfinding map. The portal nodes may be configured to designate a connection point between map units. The map developer application may receive connection elements configured to connect map units through the portal nodes. Navigation routes between nodes on different map units may be generated by the map developer application using the connection elements and the portal nodes. In an embodiment, the nodes, connection elements, map units, and/or portal nodes may be formed into one or more groups. The groups may be used for, among other things, to create and/or specify one or more characteristics common to members of the group.
Embodiments described herein may provide multiple technological advantages for digital wayfinding maps and for systems and methods for generating digital wayfinding maps. A non-limiting example of such an advantage is the more efficient and cost-effective creation of digital wayfinding maps and navigation routes between multiple map units of digital wayfinding maps than possible using existing technology.
Digital wayfinding maps configured according to embodiments are not limited to geographical areas or buildings, as any object capable of being represented through a routable map structure is contemplated herein, including, without limitation, electronic circuits, communication networks, social networks, supply chain networks, waterways, plumbing systems, electrical systems, and/or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
The nodes 130a-130j may be configured to provide selectable and/or navigable points within the digital wayfinding map 100. For example, a node 130a-130j may be selected by a user to provide further information about the point of interest associated with the node, including, without limitation, names, addresses, latitude, longitude, distances from other nodes, or combinations thereof. According to some embodiments, a user may select nodes 130a-130j to receive directions for traveling between two or more nodes within the digital wayfinding map. For example, a user may be accessing the digital wayfinding map 100 using a logic device, such as a kiosk computing device, within room 140. The user may seek to find directions to the nearest bus stop 125 from their current location, designated on the digital wayfinding map 100 by node 130c. According to some embodiments, the map application may determine the nearest bus stop 125 or the user may select their current location, node 130c, and then select node 130h. The map application may generate the lowest-cost path 135 for the user to travel from their current location, node 130c, to their destination, node 130h.
In an embodiment, the map application may be configured to determine the lowest-cost path between all of the nodes 130a-130j using various path selection factors. Non-limiting examples of path selection factors for determining the lowest-cost path include time, distance, safety, popularity, environment, time of day, personal preferences, weather, or the like. For example, a user may prefer walking paths that are a combination of the shortest distance and proximity to main roadways. In another example, a walking path between two lecture halls on a college campus may be different in the wintertime, using more paths through connected buildings, as compared to the summertime. In an embodiment, the lowest-cost paths between the nodes may be determined based on an automated process, such as Djikstra's algorithm and/or the A-star algorithm, to determine the shortest path between the nodes, including the nodes created at intersecting paths. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the path may be determined by the user. For example, the user may select three or more nodes on the digital wayfinding map and a path may be generated giving the user the lowest-cost path to travel to all of the selected nodes. In an embodiment, the lowest-cost paths may be determined based on a combination of path selection factors, an automated process, and/or a user selected portion of the path.
In some embodiments, the map application may be accessible through various platforms, such as a client application, web-based application, over the Internet, and/or a mobile application (for example, a “mobile app” or “app”). According to some embodiments, the map application may be configured to operate on each logic device 210a-210n, 220a-220d and/or to operate on a server computing device accessible to logic devices over a network 205, such as the Internet. All or some of the files, data and/or processes (for example, route generating processes) associated with each digital wayfinding map may be stored locally on each logic device 210a-210n, 220a-220d and/or stored in a central location and accessible over a network 205.
In an embodiment, one or more data stores 225 may be accessible by the logic devices 210a-210n, 220a-220d for the generation and/or presentation of the digital wayfinding maps. For example, the one or more data stores 225 may include, without limitation, images, node data, path data, network data, device data, user profile data, and/or metadata associated therewith. In another example, the one or more data stores 225 may include third-party data sources that may be used to generate a digital wayfinding map and/or routes between nodes presented on the digital wayfinding map. For instance, a third-party data source may include blueprint images for a building, information to present to a user responsive to selection of a node, such as a hyperlink associated with a business having an address associated with a particular node, a social graph service, or the like. The one or more data stores 225 may include various information resources. Illustrative and non-restrictive examples include databases, digital files, such as digital documents (for example, image files, maps, blueprints, or the like), websites, multimedia files, audio files, video files, or the like. Accordingly, embodiments are not limited to any particular form of information resource as any form in existence or developed in the future capable of operating according to embodiments is contemplated herein.
Although the one or more data stores 225 are depicted as being separate from the logic devices 210a-210n, 220a-220d, embodiments are not so limited, as all or some of the one or more data stores may be stored in one or more of the logic devices.
In an embodiment, a map development application 215 may be provided to generate the digital wayfinding maps, the map application, map data, and/or map images. The map development application 215 may be executed on a logic device, such as logic devices 210a-210n, 220a-220d. In an embodiment, the map development application 215 may be configured to generate and/or update a digital wayfinding map and to provide access to the new and/or updated digital wayfinding map to logic devices 210a-210n, 220a-220d within the system 200. According to some embodiments, the map development application 215 may be a module of the map application, and vice versa. The map development application 215 may include various modules, tools, or the like for generating digital wayfinding maps. For instance, the map development application 215 may include modules configured to access image files, create map units, add structures, add geographical areas, add lines (for example, paths, elevators, stairs, escalators), generate routes, test routes, add points of interest, and add information related thereto.
According to some embodiments, a route generation application or module may operate on one or more of the logic devices 210a-210n, 220a-220d within the system 200. The route generation module may be configured to generate routes based on information obtained from the map development application 215 and/or the one or more data stores 225. For instance, the route generation application may generate a route and/or obtain an existing route in response to a request from the map application operating on one or more of the logic devices 210a-210n, 220a-220d. According to some embodiments, routes between nodes may be generated by the map development application and/or route generation application and saved, for instance, in the one or more data stores 225. Responsive to a request to generate a route between nodes, the map development application 215 and/or the route generation application may determine whether a route between the nodes already exists. The existing route may be used as the generated route such that the route does not need to be re-generated. The map development application 215 and/or the route generation application may determine whether changes along the route have occurred and may modify the route to incorporate the changes (for instance, the addition/removal of a node).
In an embodiment, the route generation application may operate on a server computing device 210a-210n and may be accessed by the map application through one or more interfaces, such as an application programming interfaces (APIs). In an embodiment, the route generation application may be a standalone software application operating between the map application and the map development application. For instance, the route generation application may receive requests from the map application to generate a route and the route generation application may communicate with the map development application to obtain information associated with generating the requested route. In an embodiment, the route generation application may be a module of the map application and/or the map development application.
The map development application 215 may receive one or more portal nodes 315a-315g on the map units 305a-305c configured to designate a connection point between map units. The portal nodes 315a-315g may be configured to represent various types of connections between floors in a building, including, without limitation, stairways, elevators and/or escalators. For instance, if portal node 315a and portal node 315d are connected through an elevator connection element, portal node 315a and portal node 315d may represent elevator shaft interfaces, such as elevator doors, providing entrance to the elevator that operates between map unit 305b and map unit 305c.
In
The connection elements 325a-325d and portal nodes 315a-315g provide the ability to connect individual map units 305a-305c in a digital wayfinding map 300 to allow a user to interact with the digital wayfinding map as a single entity instead of a collection of separate map units. As shown in
The route 330 may be generated using various processes according to some embodiments described herein. For example, given a starting point on map unit 305a and an ending point on map unit 305c, the map development application 215 and/or map application may determine the preferred route based on one or more factors and/or processes. In an embodiment, the map development application 215 and/or map application may determine the lowest cost of getting to each connection element 325a-325c on map unit 305a and then determine the cost of getting to the destination from each portal node 315a on map unit 315c. The map development application 215 and/or map application may determine the lowest-cost route by comparing the paths with the lowest cost based on various factors and/or processes, as described above. The example digital wayfinding map 300 depicted in
As shown in
In an embodiment, the map development application 215 may be configured to provide one or more user specified paths 330 between map units 305a-305c. For example, the map development application 215 may be configured to provide a path 330 that is handicap accessible (for instance, a path without stairs and/or with ramps for wheel chairs, strollers, or the like) and/or that avoids certain areas (for instance, the emergency room in a hospital or a busy intersection on a campus). The generated paths 330 may be stored in a data storage location, such as an electronic file (for example, an extensible markup language (XML) file) and/or one or more data stores 225. For instance, the map development application 215, map application, and/or route generation application may store the nodes 310a-310u, portal nodes 315a-315g, lines 320, connection elements 325a-325d, and/or information associated therewith for each map unit and possible routes therebetween.
In an embodiment, various digital wayfinding map components may be formed into one or more groups, such as map units 305a-305c, nodes 310a-310u, portal nodes 315a-315g, lines 320, and/or connection elements 325a-325d. The groups may be used, among other things, to create and/or specify one or more characteristics common to members of the group. For example, each member of the group may be disabled by setting a “disabled” property of the group to “true,” and vice versa. For instance, a group may be disabled in the case of a fire, maintenance, the time of day, or other condition requiring that all members of the group be disabled/enabled. In an embodiment, the map application may select a route that does not include disabled digital wayfinding map components. In another example, portal nodes 315a-315g and/or connection elements 325a-325d may be grouped according to directionality (for instance, an “up” group and a “down” group). In a further example, components may be grouped according to function, such as an “elevator” group, a “stairway” group, an “escalator” group, or the like.
In an embodiment, the map development application 215 may include various modules for generating routes 330 between the nodes and/or map units. For instance, a node route module may operate to generate routes between nodes 310a-310u, 315a-315g on each individual floor and a map unit route module may operate to determine routes between map units 305a-305c. In a non-limiting example using the route 330 depicted in
The map development application may receive 410 input from an input device generating nodes on the plurality of map units. The nodes may be configured to represent points of interest on the map units. For instance, the nodes may represent rooms in a floor map unit. The nodes may be connected using lines configured to provide a path between the nodes, such as a hallway between the rooms of the floor map unit. The map development application 215 may receive 415 input generating portal nodes on the plurality of map units. According to some embodiments, the portal nodes may be configured to represent connections between map units, such as an elevator shaft, stairway entrance, or the like. Each portal node may connect a map unit to another map unit. In addition, lines may be used to connect a portal node to one or more nodes, for instance, to represent that a node may be reached by entering the map unit through the connected portal. Input may be received 420 by the map development application generating connection elements on the plurality of map units. In some embodiments, the connection elements may be configured to connect the portal nodes of the map units. For instance, a connection element may be configured to represent an elevator operating between a portal node on a first map unit and a portal node on a second map unit.
The map development application may connect 425 the portal nodes of the plurality of map units through the connection elements. In this manner, the map development application may use the connection elements as paths between map units. Accordingly, the map development application may generate 430 multi-unit paths between the plurality of map units using the connection elements and the portal nodes. For instance, in a digital wayfinding map including five map units representing five floors of a building, the map development application 215 may generate a route from a node on the first floor to a node on the fifth floor using the multi-unit paths. Accordingly, the map application may present the route to the user as a single map connected through the connection elements and the portal nodes.
A controller 520 interfaces with one or more optional memory devices 525 to the system bus 500. These memory devices 525 may include, for example, an external or internal DVD drive, a CD ROM drive, a hard drive, flash memory, a USB drive or the like. As indicated previously, these various drives and controllers are optional devices. Additionally, the memory devices 525 may be configured to include individual files for storing any software modules or instructions, auxiliary data, common files for storing groups of results or auxiliary, or one or more databases for storing the result information, auxiliary data, and related information as discussed above. For example, the memory devices 525 may be configured to store information associated with the one or more data stores 225.
Program instructions, software or interactive modules for performing any of the functional steps associated with the analysis of judicial decision making as described above may be stored in the ROM 530 and/or the RAM 535. Optionally, the program instructions may be stored on a tangible computer-readable medium such as a compact disk, a digital disk, flash memory, a memory card, a USB drive, an optical disc storage medium, such as a Blu-ray™ disc, and/or other recording medium.
An optional display interface 530 may permit information from the bus 500 to be displayed on the display 535 in audio, visual, graphic or alphanumeric format. The information may include information related to a current job ticket and associated tasks. Communication with external devices may occur using various communication ports 540. An exemplary communication port 540 may be attached to a communications network, such as the Internet or a local area network.
The hardware may also include an interface 545 which allows for receipt of data from input devices such as a keyboard 550 or other input device 555 such as a mouse, a joystick, a touch screen, a remote control, a pointing device, a video input device and/or an audio input device.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which alternatives, variations and improvements are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims
1. A system for connecting a plurality of map units of a digital wayfinding map, the system comprising:
- a processor; and
- a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
- access the plurality of map units, each of the plurality of map units comprising at least one of a plurality of nodes;
- receive a plurality of portal nodes arranged on at least two of the plurality of map units;
- receive at least one connection element configured to indicate a connection between at least two of the plurality of map units through at least two of the plurality of portal nodes; and
- generate at least one multi-unit route between at least two of the plurality of nodes of the at least two map units using the at least one connection element.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display component operatively coupled to the processor,
- wherein the computer-readable storage medium further contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to present the digital wayfinding map on the display component.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to present the digital wayfinding map on the display component comprise one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to only present map units along the at least one multi-unit route on the display component.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital wayfinding map is configured to represent at least one of a building, a circuit or a campus.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital wayfinding map is configured to represent a building and each of the plurality of map units are configured to represent a floor in the building.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection element is associated with a directionality characteristic.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection element comprises at least one of a doorway, a ramp, an escalator, an elevator, or a stairway.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with one or more logic devices,
- wherein the computer-readable storage medium further contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to transmit the digital wayfinding map to the one or more logic devices.
9. A computer-implemented method for connecting a plurality of map units of a digital wayfinding map, the method comprising, by a processor:
- accessing the plurality of map units, each of the plurality of map units comprising at least one of a plurality of nodes;
- receiving a plurality of portal nodes arranged on at least two of the plurality of map units;
- receiving at least one connection element configured to indicate a connection between at least two of the plurality of map units through at least two of the plurality of portal nodes; and
- generate at least one multi-unit route between at least two of the plurality of nodes of the at least two map units using the at least one connection element.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising presenting the digital wayfinding map on a display component operatively coupled to the processor.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein presenting the digital wayfinding map comprises presenting only map units along the at least one lowest-cost route are presented in the digital wayfinding map on the display component.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital wayfinding map is configured to represent at least one of a building, a circuit or a campus.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital wayfinding map is configured to represent a building and each of the plurality of map units are configured to represent a floor in the building.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one connection element is associated with a directionality characteristic.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one connection element comprises at least one of a doorway, a ramp, an escalator, an elevator, or a stairway.
16. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the digital wayfinding map to one or more logic devices using a transceiver operatively coupled to the processor.
17. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code configured to connect a plurality of map units of a digital wayfinding map embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code comprising:
- computer-readable program code configured to access the plurality of map units, each of the plurality of map units comprising at least one of a plurality of nodes;
- computer-readable program code configured to receive a plurality of portal nodes arranged on at least two of the plurality of map units;
- computer-readable program code configured to receive at least one connection element configured to indicate a connection between at least two of the plurality of map units through at least two of the plurality of portal nodes; and
- computer-readable program code configured to generate at least one multi-unit route between at least two of the plurality of nodes of the at least two map units using the at least one connection element.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising computer readable program code configured to present the digital wayfinding map on a display component.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising computer readable program code configured to present only map units along the at least one lowest-cost in the digital wayfinding map on the display component.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising computer readable program code configured to transmit the digital wayfinding map to one or more logic devices over a network.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 17, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 18, 2014
Inventors: Ethan Canner (Philipsburgh, PA), Jonathan McKnight (Morrisdale, PA)
Application Number: 13/919,716
International Classification: G01C 21/00 (20060101); G01C 21/20 (20060101);